Reward for Matt: A Bounty on the Badge

Episode Title: Reward for Matt: A Bounty on the Badge

Originally Aired: April 30, 1955

Reward for Matt: A Bounty on the Badge

In one of the most harrowing and emotional episodes of Gunsmoke, Marshal Matt Dillon becomes the target of a deadly manhunt—not by outlaws, but by ordinary people desperate for cash. After Matt kills rancher Mel Hornby in self-defense, Hornby’s bitter widow swears revenge. Fueled by hatred and pride, she offers a $1,000 reward to anyone who can prove Matt Dillon is dead—no questions asked.

Word spreads quickly. Posters go up around Dodge. And as Matt continues his duties, he’s forced to look over his shoulder every moment. Drifters, cowhands, even kids start watching him with dangerous curiosity. One of them—a desperate, dirt-poor boy of fifteen—takes a shot and dies trying.

Haunted by the boy’s death, Matt confronts Mrs. Hornby, only to be met with cold indifference. But as the blood continues to spill, something begins to shift. The breaking point comes when the boy’s grieving mother arrives—Mrs. Reeves—revealing that her son only did it to survive. Her husband was Jake Reeves, the same man Hornby had murdered weeks earlier.

In a rare moment of humility, Mrs. Hornby sees the human cost of her vendetta. She quietly withdraws the reward and walks away, leaving Matt to face the town—and himself.

A gripping tale of guilt, vengeance, and the burden of justice, Reward for Matt stands as a powerful meditation on what happens when the lawman becomes the hunted.

Keywords: "Gunsmoke Reward for Matt episode," "April 1955 Gunsmoke radio," "Matt Dillon bounty on his head," "Mrs. Hornby revenge plot," "fifteen-year-old bounty hunter," "Jake Reeves murder connection," "John Meston radio drama."

Cast: William Conrad (Matt Dillon), Parley Baer (Chester), Howard McNear (Doc), Georgia Ellis (Kitty), Jeanette Nolan (Mrs. Hornby), Sam Edwards (the boy), Helen Kleeb (Mrs. Reeves).

Welcome to Gunsmoke: Old West Stories, a podcast that takes you back to the rugged plains of 1870s Dodge City, Kansas. Rediscover the timeless tales of bravery, justice, and survival in the American frontier with our re-broadcasts of the classic Gunsmoke radio program.

First airing on April 26, 1952, Gunsmoke was celebrated as the first adult western radio show, renowned for its superb storytelling and exceptional production quality. Join Marshal Matt Dillon, portrayed by the incomparable William Conrad, as he faces the challenges of maintaining law and order in a tumultuous town. Alongside him are unforgettable characters like Chester Proudfoot (Parley Baer), the steadfast deputy; Kitty (Georgia Ellis), the resilient saloon owner; and Doc Adams (Howard McNear), the town’s compassionate physician.

What sets Gunsmoke apart is not just its stellar cast and engaging plots but the immersive sound effects that bring each scene to life. Every gunshot, horse gallop, and whisper of the wind transports you directly to the heart of the Old West.

Whether you're a longtime fan or a new listener, Gunsmoke: Old West Stories promises to deliver gripping adventures and a nostalgic journey through one of radio’s most iconic series. Tune in and let the legends of Dodge City captivate your imagination.